Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a pivotal figure in the Russian Revolution and a leader of the Bolshevik Party. His early life was marked by a commitment to revolutionary struggle, influenced by family history and the philosophical currents of his time. His experiences with the oppression of the peasantry and Marxist teachings guided him toward organizing workers' circles and disseminating revolutionary literature. After leading the October Revolution, he became the first chairman of the Soviet government and founded the Communist International, later warning against the bureaucratization of the state in his final writings.
The State and Revolution is Lenin's most significant work, in which he rejects the institutions of Western democracy and presents his vision of the final perfection of communism. It offers unparalleled insight into the twentieth century, capitalism, the Russian revolution, and more.
A reprint of the 1934 'enlarged edition', a volume that added newly translated material to the title essay. It includes an introduction by Engels ["Do you want to know that this dictatorship of the proletariat looks like? Then look at the Paris Commune. That was the dictatorship of the proletariat"], Marx's first and second 'Manifesto On The Franco-Prussian War', the correspondence of Marx & Engels on the Commune, and Engels' 'The Program of the Blanquist Fugitives from the Paris Commune'.
Lenin's Marxist classic explains the inevitable flaws and destructive power of capitalism: that it would lead unavoidably to imperialism, monopolies and colonialism.
The book delves into Lenin's critical role in advancing Marxism, addressing challenges from reformists and distorting ideologies. It highlights his contributions to the theory of proletarian dictatorship and the importance of the worker-peasant alliance. The text also explores Lenin's views on national and colonial issues, proletarian internationalism, and the necessity of a strong, unified party to lead the working class and oppressed peoples. Furthermore, it presents his innovative theory of socialist revolution, emphasizing the feasibility of socialism's success in a single nation.
Set against the backdrop of the Russian February 1917 Revolution, this work serves as Lenin's powerful rebuttal to the ideas of Krautsky and other 'opportunists' who distorted Marx's fundamental teachings for political gain. It delves into the ideological battles of the time, emphasizing the importance of adhering to Marxist principles amidst the revolutionary upheaval, and critiques the compromises made by those who deviated from the original doctrine.
This work-written in 1908 as a militant, occasionally virulent, polemic against certain Bolsheviks who had strayed from dialectical materialism into the jungle of "Machism" and associated idealist philosophies-serves today as an invaluable example of Lenin's approach to philosophy and as a general exposition of dialectical materialism. Lenin's breadth of knowledge shines in this text: he discusses the Marxist theory of knowledge, critiques the idealists, from Berkeley to the then current schools, and examines the contemporary "crisis" in natural science induced by new discoveries about the nature of matter and its concomitant ramifications for scientific study and questions of epistemology.With a new foreword by Helena Sheehan, the reprint of this classic text aims to return Materialism and Empirio-Criticism to the attention of the growing number of students of Marxism in the United States, and to provide material for the study of the interrelationship between Marxist politics and philosophy.
The book explores the Paris Commune of 1871, highlighting its brief but impactful experiment in democracy and workers' governance. It includes Marx's address on the Commune, Lenin's reflections on its significance for building socialism, and Bertolt Brecht's poetic tribute. Additionally, it features the Manifesto of the Paris Commune's Federation of Artists, showcasing the cultural and political aspirations of the time. Together, these texts provide insights into revolutionary thought and the enduring legacy of the Commune in shaping socialist ideals.
The central theme of this influential 1902 work is the collaboration between the educated bourgeoisie and the working class within socialist parties, which leads to the development of the "vanguard of the proletariat" theory. This concept is pivotal in Marxism-Leninism. The title pays homage to Nikolai Chernyshevsky's novel, reflecting Lenin's respect for the author. Lenin, a key figure in the Russian Revolution and a prominent Marxist theorist, played a crucial role in establishing the Communist Party of Russia and the Soviet state.
This enhanced edition of Lenin's seminal work features a unique, copyrighted index, making it a valuable resource for readers and researchers. The index, developed through advanced software and editorial review, facilitates more efficient and insightful reading of the text. This edition stands out for its practical addition, aiding in the exploration of Lenin's analysis of capitalism and imperialism, which remains relevant in contemporary discussions of economic systems.
The first serious collection of Lenin's writings for decades. Editor Paul Le Blanc argues that Lenin was committed to democracy.